Tag Archives: balsam Range

The origins of country music are rooted in the folk and acoustic music of the American South, blending traditional ballads, cowboy songs, and various musical traditions including Celtic fiddle tunes. The highly awarded acoustic band, Balsam Range, shares these musical roots. …

December 12 marks the 3rd annual BLUEGRASS MUSIC APPRECIATION DAY. Starting in 2012, December 12 was declared as a day for musicians and fans to share the love of bluegrass music and its rich legacy as an American art form. The …

It was a big night for Balsam Range at the 2014 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards, which were announced during a red carpet event at the annual World of Bluegrass convention in Raleigh, NC. Singer/Fiddler Buddy Melton was named Male Vocalist of the Year and shared his heartfelt gratitude …

At a luncheon in Raleigh, N.C., as part of the annual World of Bluegrass event, the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) announced the winners of the Momentum Awards, a number of special honors to recognize excellence and achievement in a variety …

When Buddy Melton of Balsam Range gets cooking on an uptempo track, as he does on the thrilling “Moon Over Memphis,” there’s a definite sense of swagger about his vocal that brings to mind that confidence that John Cowan exuded as lead singer of New Grass Revival back in the 1980s. Melton leaves nothing to chance vocally, and you know at once you are dealing with a force of nature. But, it’s not all uptempo…

Members of the award winning band Balsam Range have earned a reputation for giving back. The band of friends from Haywood County, NC has raised more than half a million dollars for a variety of charities. Now, the giving extends …

Among the most exciting and buzzworthy acts on the acoustic scene is Balsam Range. The somewhat inauspicious beginnings at a local pizza parlor in Haywood County, NC could not contain the musical phenomenon created by this gifted group of hometown …

Members of the award-winning band, Balsam Range, have been back in the studio, putting the finishing touches on the band’s fifth album. Bass player and vocalist Tim Surrett calls the project the “strongest collection of songs” the band has ever …

Last Thanksgiving, Buddy Melton was simply grateful to be alive. This year, he’s eager to share new insights after triumphantly returning from life-threatening injuries sustained in an accident on his farm. “I was doing something I shouldn’t do,” Melton recalls about that day in March of 2012. “I was working with those cows and no one knew it. Lots of folks with small farms or businesses make the same decision. You do a lot of stuff by yourself and you forget how dangerous it is…

In the wake of winning Album of the Year at the IBMA awards, Balsam Range’s banjo player Marc Pruett paused at a table backstage which held the plaques for Hall of Fame inductees Tony Rice and Paul Warren. Gently touching …

Balsam Range is proud to announce an endorsement deal with one of the world’s most prestigious audio brands. The IBMA Album of the Year winning band is now touring with new equipment from Sennheiser as an official endorser of the …

While an electric mandolin is not the usual stage fare for Darren Nicholson, the Balsam Range player has dusted off his unique pink J Bovier electric mandolin for a few special events in the month of October.”It’s just my way of …

Fresh on the heels of their win for Album of the Year at the 2013 IBMA Awards, the members of Balsam Range appeared at the annual Southern Ground Music & Food Festival in Charleston, SC. Balsam Range performed selections from …

In what is destined to become one of Bluegrass music’s most memorable nights, including the emotional Hall of Fame inductions of both Paul Warren and Tony Rice (who shared his voice for the first time in years!), the members of …

Zac Brown Band founding member John Driskell Hopkins has released his own project apart from the Grammy-winning country group – a colorful collaboration with bluegrass quintet Balsam Range titled “Daylight.” Produced by Hopkins and the North Carolina-based band, this collection of thirteen songs, all written or co-written by Hopkins, is a polished effort that’s destined for the industry’s lists of best in bluegrass this year. With meaty vocal performances that fluctuate from smooth croon to bluesy spittin’ growl, Hopkins takes us on a …

Recently, singer/songwriter and artist John Driskell Hopkins sat down with Cristina deVallescar and talked about his new album, “Daylight,” with Balsam Range. Hopkins, also a long-time member of the Zac Brown Band, talked about life on the road, family, the differences between being in a band with Zac Brown and his new ventures, and more. After the interview, Hokins performed an acoustic version …

John Driskell Hopkins and Balsam Range are excited to perform at The Grand Ole Opry on Friday, March 8th! “I’m doubly honored to be able to play my own songs in one of the greatest music venues in the world,” …

John Driskell Hopkins has walked the musical path for the last 20 years. As a bass player, guitar player, singer and songwriter for several bands of the rock variety, Hopkins rooted himself in the Atlanta, GA music scene in 1995, …

Class Act Entertainment welcomes Balsam Range to its growing roster of talent. Considered by many to be one of the top bands out of North Carolina in years, Balsam Range is becoming an in-demand touring act nationally on the heels …

It’s been a wide river to cross for Balsam Range. Last year’s Bluegrass Song of the Year winners have tasted success, faced a potential demise, started a community from their fan base and created groundbreaking ways to get their music …